Method:We reviewed official pricing, help, security and migration documentation on July 16, 2026. Plan names, prices, availability and features can change, so reconfirm them at checkout.
Scope:This is an official-source review for purchase decisions. We did not perform a reproducible usability or performance test, so it does not rank ease of use, speed or design quality.
Disclosure:At publication, this article contains no affiliate links. If links are added later, they will be disclosed near the link and under our Affiliate Disclosure. Affiliate Disclosure
Conclusion: a candidate for publishing-focused businesses that want extensions and migration options
WordPress.com
WordPress.com is a hosted WordPress service. It has a permanent free plan, and the current official pricing page states that paid plans include a first-year domain, plugin installation, ad-free visitor experience and CDN hosting. Content and media can be exported, while automatic full-site backups are centered on Business and Commerce plans.
- Permanent free plan
- Available
- Plugins on paid plans
- Supported
- HTTPS/SSL
- Free for hosted domains
- Automatic backups
- Business and Commerce
Advantages confirmed in official documentation
- Start pages and posts on a free plan with no expiration
- Current paid plans support plugins and custom themes
- Export posts, pages and comments as XML and download the media library
- Extend the site into a WooCommerce store
Constraints to check before subscribing
- WordPress.com and self-hosted WordPress.org have different contracts and responsibilities
- More plugins and themes create compatibility, update and cost management
- Automatic backups and one-click restore are primarily Business and Commerce features
- The standard XML export is not a full copy of themes, plugins and the database
Plan structure
| Option | Official terms | Typical use | Check before purchase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | No expiration and no credit card | Starting a blog or information site | WordPress.com subdomain and plan limits |
| Personal / Premium | Check the current official pricing page | General sites using a custom domain | Compare storage, analytics and monetization features |
| Business | Custom themes and plugins, 50 GB, SEO tools and dedicated support | Business sites needing extensions and backups | Review plugin choices and maintenance responsibilities |
| Commerce | WooCommerce-focused selling; 14-day trial available | Online stores | Estimate payments, shipping, tax and extension costs |
Prices, taxes, currencies, discounts and available plans vary by market and date. Use the official pricing page and checkout as the final source.
Main capabilities confirmed by official sources
Publishing
- Block editor
- Posts and pages
- Custom domain on paid plans
- Themes and styles
Extensions
- Plugins on paid plans
- Custom themes
- Analytics and SEO features by plan
- Forms and integrations
Maintenance
- Free SSL
- Global CDN hosting
- Automatic backups on Business and Commerce
- Page and post revisions
Migration and selling
- XML content export
- Media-library export
- Full-site migration plugin on eligible plans
- WooCommerce
Standard exports and complete backups serve different purposes
Content export
The standard export creates XML for posts, pages, comments and other supported content. The media library can be downloaded separately. This is primarily a content-migration workflow.
Backup and restore
Automatic backups and one-click restores are available on Business and Commerce. A standard XML file is not a complete restore package containing the theme, plugins and database.
Who it may suit and who should compare alternatives
May suit
- You will publish articles or knowledge content continuously
- Plugins and custom themes may be needed later
- Content and media portability matters
- A WooCommerce store is planned
Compare alternatives when
- You do not want to manage plugin or theme decisions
- You only want a tightly fixed editor with minimal configuration
- Automatic full backups are required below Business
- You have not distinguished WordPress.com from WordPress.org
Pre-purchase checklist
- 1. Choose explicitly between WordPress.com and self-hosted WordPress.org
- 2. Verify that required plugins and themes are supported by the current plan
- 3. If automatic backups are required, evaluate Business or Commerce
- 4. Confirm XML, media and form-response export workflows
- 5. For WooCommerce, estimate payments, shipping, tax and extension costs
Frequently asked questions
Does the WordPress.com free plan expire?
The official pricing page describes a free plan with no expiration.
Can paid plans install plugins?
The current official pricing and plan documentation states that Personal, Premium, Business and Commerce paid plans can use plugins. Reconfirm the feature at checkout.
Can a WordPress.com site be exported?
Posts, pages and comments can be exported as XML, and the media library can be downloaded separately. Moving themes and plugins requires an eligible plan and a separate full-site migration workflow.
Official sources checked
- WordPress.com — PricingFree plan, paid plans, domain, plugins and CDN
- WordPress.com — Plan FeaturesPersonal, Premium, Business and Commerce features
- WordPress.com — HTTPS/SSLFree SSL for hosted domains and subdomains
- WordPress.com — Back Up Your SiteAutomatic backups on Business and Commerce
- WordPress.com — Export ContentXML export for posts, pages and comments
- WordPress.com — Export Media LibraryMedia export
- WordPress.com — Export Entire WebsiteMigration including themes and plugins
- WordPress.com — WooCommerceWooCommerce availability on paid plans
- WordPress.com — Commerce PlanCommerce plan and 14-day trial